"Everyone loves to see Lamine Yamal play": Flick

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said after his team's league debut with a 2-1 win at the Mestalla Stadium against Valencia that his commitment to the academy players is not because they are, but because of the high level they are at and how much they have grown during the pre-season.

"We wanted to start with three points and it's very good, there are a lot of players coming from the European Championship in Germany, from the Olympic Games. The young players from La Masia have a high level and they have grown a lot in these six weeks and they have deserved it," he told reporters.

"I don't worry if a player comes from La Masia, but it's very good to have these players and you have seen what they have done. It's fantastic and it gives us a lot at the start of the season," he added.

The German said they picked up "three very important points" because of the context in which they did it. "It was a great fight, for the stadium and for Valencia, who did very well. It was a match of a lot of intensity, but I think we deserved them in the end," he said.

Asked about Lamine Yamal: "Lamine is a fantastic player, very important for us. It was a very emotional game for him because of everything that happened to him this week. I'm proud of him, he helped us win. He's a great player and everybody loves to see him play," he continued.

"Lamine is a great player, I don't think it's so unusual for him to get a standing ovation, everyone loves to watch him play football," he added.

 

August 18, 2024